Rotary container feed



March 17, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR 2,877,729

ROTARY CONTAINER FEED Filed Feb. 13, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MLL/flM B. Psrsesamkk ATTORNEY March 17, 1959 w. B. PETERS-ON, JR 2,877,729

ROTARY CONTAINER FEED Filed Feb. 13, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 17, 1959 Y W. B. PETERSON, JR

ROTARY CONTAINER FEED Filed Feb. 13, 1956 5 Sheets- Sheet 3 INVENTOR. T/V/LL/AM B. PETERSON, JR.

- ATTORNEY March 17, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR 2,377,729

v ROTARY CONTAINER FEED Filed Feb. 13, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. T/V/LL/AM B. PETERSON, JR.

ATTORNEY March 17, 1959 w. B. PETERSON, JR 2,377,729

' ROTARY CONTAINER FEED Filed Feb. 15, 1956 5 Shecs-Shet 5 INVENTOR. I/VlLL/HM B. ETmsa/v, JR.

ROTARY CONTAINER FEED William E. Peterson, Jr., Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Angelus Sanitary Can Machine Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 13, 1956, Serial No. 564,958

3 Claims. (Cl. 113-14) This invention relates to a new and improved rotary container feed and more particularly to the provision of a rotary turret having a plurality of pockets wherein the movement of each pocket as it rotates about the turret is independent of the other pockets and the angular velocity of each pocket varies during the cycle of rotation of the turret.

The present invention finds particular application in conjunction with a single spindle can seamer or container closing machine. It will be understood, however, that the invention has application in other installations, as will occur to one skilled in the canning art.

During the cycle of operation of the machine hereinafter described in detail, open top cans are fed into a rotary star wheel or other transfer device from a conveyor and thence into a turret. The turret in which the present invention is incorporated is provided with a plurality of pockets. Each pocket is semi-circular in plan and is attached to the outer end of a lever of the third class, the fulcrum of which is located adjacent the axis of rotation of the turret. By means of a cam and compound leverage arrangement likewise hereinafter described, force is applied to the lever at a point intermediate the fulcrum and the can pocket. By proper design of the cam, the can pocket may be given a variable angular velocity despite the fact that the turret rotates continuously at uniform velocity. For the purpose of transferring open cans from the star wheel heretofore mentioned to the can seamer spindle, the velocity of the pocket as it intersects the path of the star at the point of transfer is substantially the same as that of the star pockets. Thereafter the velocity of the turret pocket is accelerated relative to the velocity of the turret until a point is reached immediately below the can seaming spindle. The cam is so shaped that at this point the can pocket remains stationary for an appreciable interval of time. During the interval when the can pocket is stationary, the seaming operation is performed. Thereafter the can is discharged from the turret and the pocket accelerates to its speed at the commencement of the cycle.

Accordingly the present invention provides a feed for a can seamer or the like whereby a continuously uniformly rotating turret is provided with a plurality of pockets whose velocity relative to the velocity of the turret may be accurately controlled and varied for the purpose required.

One of the features and advantages of the present invention is the fact that the present invention provides a simple mechanism, relatively inexpensive in construction and easily maintained in the field with a minimum amount of adjustment and attention required.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the mechanism is protected from contact with the contents of the can in the event of spillage and the machine may be easily washed or otherwise cleaned without danger of injury to the mechanism.

Another feature and advantage of the invention is the fact that the travel of the can to the point at which the cover is applied and the seaming operation completed is continuous, rather than intermittent, thereby reducing the likelihood of spilling the contents of the can.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the variations in velocity of the can are accurately controlled in such manner that there is a minimum of spillage of the contents up to the point at which the cover is applied. Timing of the machine is not critical, as in prior machines for the same purpose, and yet the functional operation of the machine is superior to previous feed mechanisms.

Still another feature and advantage of the invention is the fact that a full semicircular pocket is provided for each can so that the possibility that a can will be displaced from its pocket during the cycle of the machine is eliminated.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and re: ferring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can seaming machine in which the present invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are schematic fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along lines 44, 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 3, respectively;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan of the pockets; and i Fig. 8 is a plan of the cam taken substantially along line 88 of Fig. 3.

The present invention is illustrated installed in a single spindle can seamer 21, which may otherwise be considered to be of standard construction and the details of which form no part of the invention and are not herein illustrated and described in detail. However, for the purpose of clarity in understanding the invention, it may be stated that open-top cans 22 which have been filled but to which covers have not yet been applied are fed into the machine from a conveyor (not shown) onto a low-pointed star wheel 23 where they are carried around in uniform, rotary motion. The turret 24 which forms the subject matter of the present invention the path of star wheel 23 in such manner that the center line of the pockets 26 thereof is tangent to the center line of the pockets 27 of the star at the point of transfer 29. Turret 24 is provided with a plurality of semicircular can-receiving pockets 26 mounted on the outer ends of horizontally disposed levers 28, all as hereinafter described in greater detail. Turret 24 rotates in a direction opposite to that in which star 23 rotates and carries each can 22 around from point of transfer 29 past cover feed station 31 which feeds a cover from a magazine 32 in a manner well understood in this art. After passing cover feed station 31, the can passes to a seaming station under the seaming head 33. At this station the can remains stationary for a time interval insofar as rotation about the axis of turret 24 is concerned. During the interval while the can is, in this sense, stationary, the seaming operation is performed. A conventional lifter pad (not shown) lifts the can upward and a conventional double seaming operation is performed by means. of seaming rolls (not shown), whereupon the lifter pad lowers the can to its original elevation. Thereafter the can is discharged from its pocket 26 and conveyed away by a can discharge conveyor in conventional manner.

Preliminary to description of turret 24 which is the subject of this invention, an understanding of the construction and function of low-pointed star wheel 23 is in order. This wheel is mounted for rotation about vertical shaft 36 and comprises a pair of vertically spaced apart, identical, horizontal stars 37 having a plurality of peripheral pockets 27. Low-pointed stars 37 differ from conventional stars in that the points 38 are truncated. Around a portion of the periphery of star wheel 23 are a plurality of arcuate rail sections 39, each section being supported by horizontally extending arms 41 which are received in an arcuate head 42 containing springs (not shown) which bias rail sections 39 toward the center of star wheel 23. Normally the distance between the innermost part of each pocket 27 and rail sections 39 is sufficient to accommodate the diameter of cans 22 being conveyed. However, in the event of mistiming of a can, rail sections 39 may flex outwardly relative to the center of the star wheel by compression of the aforementioned springs, which enables the can to find its proper location in an empty pocket 27. Accordingly cans 22 travel around star wheel 23 in accurately spaced position and at uniform rotary motion up to the point of transfer 29 to the feed turret.

Feed turret 24 is mounted on a large, irregularly shaped frame 46 having a central, rotary, vertical main shaft 47 driven in timed relation to the rotation of star wheel shaft 36 by means not herein described or illustrated. Adjacent the upper end of turret 24 is an enlarged hub 48 which is rotated by main shaft 47. On top of the hub 48 and mounted for rotation with main shaft 47 is a cover 49 which protects the internal mechanism from the contents of the can in the event of spillage and also protects the mechanism during the washing of the machine after use. Below hub 48 and fastened to frame 46 and stationary relative to shaft 47 is a circular plate 51. Adjacent the periphery of the plate is an upwardly facing box cam 52, the configuration of which is shown in Fig. 8. Cam 52 imparts to the can-receiving pockets 26 the variation in velocity which forms an important feature of the invention. Downwardly and outwardly extending peripheral lip 50 comprising an extension of hub 48 surrounds the periphery of plate 51 and protects cam 52 from the contents of cans 22 and cleaning water.

Turret 24 is provided with a plurality of can-receiving pockets 26, there being six such pockets illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each pocket 26 is formed in the outer end of a substantially semicircular yoke 53 having a radius of curvature equal to the radius of can 22 being handled. Extending around the periphery of the turret is an arcuate rail 54 which cooperates with the can-receiving pockets to guide each can in its path, the space between the innermost part of pocket 26 and rail 54 equalling the diameter of can 22. Each yoke 53 is attached by bolt 55 to the outer end of an inwardly ex tending, horizontally disposed lever 56, the inner end of which is pivotally mounted upon a vertically disposed pivot shaft 57 journaled in hub 43 adjacent main shaft 47. Yoke 53 and lever 56 comprise lever 28. Intermediate pivot shaft 57 and yoke 53 lever 56 rotatably receives the upper portion 58 of vertically disposed eccentric pin 59. Pin 59 comprises an upper cylindrical portion 58 and a lower cylindrical portion 61, the axes of which are displaced. In practical mechanical effect, eccentric pin 59 functions as a short link. Lower portion 61 is rotatably received in the inner end of upper horizontally disposed lever 62. The outer end of upper horizontally disposed lever 62 is pinned to vertical shaft 63 which is rotatably journalled in hub 48 adjacent the outer periphery thereof. The lower end of vertical shaft 63 is fixed to one end of lower horizontally disposed lever 64, and the opposite end of lower lever 64 carries cam roller 66 which fits in box cam 52 of cam plate 51. Upper lever 62 is materially longer than lower lever 64. It is apparent that the foregoing described levers 56, 62, 64 function as a compound leverage arrangement whereby very slight movement of cam follower roller 66 in cam 52 produces a relatively large movement of can pocket yoke 53. Thus as main shaft 47 rotates, the pivot shaft 57 for each can pocket 26 and the pivot shaft 63 for each compound lever assembly 56, 62, 64 revolve about the axis of main shaft 47 at a uniform angular velocity, but the velocity of yoke 53 is a composite of the velocity of pivot shaft 57 and the movement imparted to lever 56 from cam 52. Expressed otherwise, the motion of cam roller 66 in cam 52 is transmitted to lower lever 64 which is, in turn, converted to oscillatory motion of vertical shaft 63 which produces motion of upper lever 62 which is transmitted to turning movement of lower portion 61 of eccentric pin 59 and thence to the upper portion 58 of eccentric pin 59. Inasmuch as the upper portion 58 provides the application of force to lever 56, the requisite transmission of forces is accomplished.

The shape of cam 52 is such that at the point of transfer 29 from star wheel 23 to turret 24, the velocity of can pocket 26 is equal to the velocity of star pocket 27 along the tangent center lines of the paths of travel of the cans in the two turrets. Accordingly, a smooth transfer is accomplished. Thereafter the shape of cam 52 is such that the velocity of can pocket 26 increases until lever 56 is swung as far forwardly relative to a reference line 67 through the axis of shaft 57 drawn radially from the axis of main shaft 47 as is possible within the limits imposed by the number of pockets in the turret. During this acceleration a cover from magazine 32 is being fed to a position directly below the seaming head 33 and above the position the open top can in can pocket 26 achieves at reference line 67. At this position can pocket 26 has reached its maximum forward movement relative to aforementioned reference line 67, and the shape of cam 52 is such that pocket 26 remains stationary for an appreciable interval of time while turret 24 continues to revolve. During this interval the can is lifted upward by a conventional lifter pad into assembly with the previously fed cover and furtherly upward into the seaming head where the cover is seamed to the can. The rapid action of cam 52 in stopping the forward movement of the can at the seaming station, and the rapid lifting movement of the lifter pad to bring the can into immediate assembly with the cover, are such as to prohibit spillage of the contents of the can. After completion of the seaming action the lifter pad lowers the seamed can to its original level and cam 52 actuates can pocket 26 to resume movement. Thereafter the can is discharged from pocket 26, rail 54 being discontinued to permit this result. Cam 52 then causes can pocket 26 to accelerate until its velocity at transfer point 29 equals that at the commencement of the cycle of operation.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container feed mechanism, a rotating turret having a hub, a plurality of radially extending feed levers pivotally mounted adjacent the axis of rotation of said turret, and each having an outer pocket shaped to engage a portion of a container, each said feed lever being independently mounted in said turret, the angular position of each said feed lever relative to said turret varying during the cycle of rotation of said turret, a secondary lever system pivotally mounted in said turret adjacent the periphery of said turret, and link means connecting said secondary lever system to said feed lever, said secondary lever system including a stationary cam, a cam follower for said cam connected to said secondary lever system, said cam being shaped to cause said feed lever pocket to accelerate for a portion of the cycle of rotation of said turret, decelerate for a portion of said cycle, and stand substantially stationary for an appreciable time during said cycle, a horizontal lower lever on which said cam follower is mounted, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said hub on which an end of said horizontal lower lever opposite said cam follower is fixed, an upper lever fixed on the upper end of said vertical shaft, and an eccentric pin having a lower cylindrical portion and an upper cylindrical portion, the axes of said upper and lower cylindrical portions being parallel and eccentric to each other, said lower cylindrical portion being rotatably mounted in said upper lever and said upper cylindrical portion being rotatably mounted in said feed lever.

2. In a container feed mechanism, a rotating turret, a plurality of substantially radially extending levers mounted in said turret, each said lever having an outer portion shaped to engage a portion of a container, pivot means for the inner end of each said lever adjacent the axis of rotation of said turret pivotally mounting each said lever on said turret, and means including a cam for pivoting each said lever about said pivot means independently of the other said levers, said cam being shaped to vary the angular velocities of the outer portions of said levers, said cam being shaped whereby during a cycle of rotation of said turret each said outer portion is substantially stationary for an appreciable time, said last-named means comprising a first horizontal lever on which said cam follower is mounted, an oscillatory shaft on which one end of said first horizontal lever is fixed, a secondary horizontal lever fixed on the opposite end of said oscillatory shaft, and eccentric means connecting the outer end of said second horizontal lever and said radially extending lever intermediate said pivot means and said outer portion.

3. In a container closing machine, a continuously rotating turret, means for feeding containers in timed relation to said turret up to a point of transfer, an arcuate rail extending around a portion of the periphery of said turret beyond said point of transfer, acontainer closing head remote from said point of transfer, means for discharging containers from said turret beyond said closing head, a stationary cam, a plurality of levers extending substantially radially in said turret, each said lever having an outer portion shaped to engage a portion of a container and cooperate with said rail to feed containers around said turret, pivot means for each said lever pivotally mounting each said lever independently of the other said levers adjacent the axis of rotation of said turret, a plurality of cam followers engaging said cam, and means for transmitting motion from each said cam follower to its corresponding lever, said cam being, between said point of transfer and closing head, shaped to advance said outer portion of each said lever ahead of a radial line through said axis and pivot means and then to hold said outer portion stationary under said closing head for an appreciable time interval, said means for transmitting motion comprising a first horizontal lever on which said cam follower is mounted, an oscillatory shaft on one end of which said first lever is fixed, a second horizontal lever fixed on the opposite end of said oscillatory shaft, and an eccentric pin, one portion of said pin being rotatable in the outer end of said second horizontal lever, and the other portion of said pin being rotatable in said lever intermediate said pivot means and said outer portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,654,091 Peiler Dec. 27, 1927 2,026,811 Bach Jan. 7, 1936 2,298,306 Nordquist Oct. 13, 1942 

